Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-28
1olal ...........,...... 81, ZIG. az
THE YEARLY EXPENDITURE OF THE WASHINGTON
AND GEORGETOwN RAILROAD CO.,

Tor repairs TO tracks, including the pavements be-
tween for the past seven years, have been as fol.
81 1856; 1888, s1o,3ts.li; 1854, ST. O4s23; 1885,
$l,4lO76; 1886, sl2,333.O6; total, $64, 1865;
mean, s9,205.3 Tins company has ABOUT 10
miles OF double tracS The average cost of main
tenance per lnlle Tor the space between the outer
rails for the past seven years has therefore been
$500, and Ior the Two feet strips adjacent to the
the company has been therefore 81 :,6O II per
nile per annum. Granite blocks are used instead
or cobble-stoneS In the inter rail spaces on Penn-
SylVanla avenue between 1St and 10Th streets.
Ine Hrst cost or this pavement Is much greater
than cobDle, but the cost or maintenance is less,
THE METROPOLITAN LINES.
The superintendent OF the Metropolitan railway
estimates the annual cost OF maintenance Der
mIle or double track as s1A99S5. AS these np-
ures can only be regarded as approximations IT, is
within reasonable limits to put the cost OF Ina1n
tenance in this city at s., 400 per mile OF double
track per year.
FORMS OF RAILS IN OTHER CITIES.
There are many forms OF rails which fulfill In
greater or less degree the conditions before stated
On the drawing submitted herewith are shown
the sections the various forms OF rails now
In use in this city, together with those In use In
Philadelphia, New York and certain European
cities The '.BostOn" rail is now being laid BY the
West End Railway Co. in BrOOkline, Mass, and is
given rs q specimen OF the improved modern rail
rather THAN type OF the Boston rails. The rail
rests on continuous bed or concrete inches by
1S Inches In dimensions, giving solid bearing
The rails are connected Dy iron tie rods at inter
ValS Oh feet u Inches, and bOlted to intermediate
wooden ties. Eight miles or this track are now
under contract. The rails are 30 feet long and
weigh 80 TO 100 pounds per yard This is an ex.
ceiient form or rail the only objection beiug that
III renewals IL Will be necessary To tear I'm tha
street pavement.
The grOOved rails laid by the Metropolitan Rail-
way co. at the intersection OF Pennsylvania ave-
nue. anu 9Ch street are very similar to the Boston,
Or, speaking more correctly the LIVERPOOL rail-
The Broca rail- used In London and Paris is also OF
tne same general form. The Ktnkard Barker and
Dunstome English systems have this advantage
tiat The stringers are or iron permanently I'm
bedded In concrete, the steel rails being attached
thereto by bolts and nuts Or keys In the K1nkard
the rail- resting on the chairs at intervals OF feet
Eacn chair Is u inches high, OK inches wide and
80 long at the base. Renewals OF rails neceSSitatt
the removal OF one or more paving blocks OppOsit,
each key. The same is true OF the Barker sysrem
The Barker and DunScOIn6e systems have cOntinu
Oas Strngers. In the latter the space around the
holds the latter hrmly In place. The rail can theD
be tlghtened loosened, or entirely removed by the
use ot an ordinary screwdriver on the head OF the
bolt.
TEE RAIL PROPOSED By CAPTAIN aRHHNF
is similar In principle to the foregoing consisting
| OF cast-iron stnnger, imbedded in concrete and
| steel rail. The rail can be removed without dis
turbing the pavement. The strtnger weighs 13(
pounds per yard, and the rail 40 p0uds. In the
kinkard system the ordinary chairs weigh &c
pounds each, and the joint chairs 60 pounds. The
rail- weighs 50 pounds TO the yard. The Manches
ter rail- Darker system) weighs 40 pounds 70 Che
The rst cost per mile Of double S track 4nclSdina @
paving at so cents per square YARD Is given by Mr.
Bara6ant, chief engineer OF public ways, Paris a
OF single track is given by the same authority a:
$3l,OOO This Is an expensive track but as NJ
Barabant remarks: "N the frst cost b very
economical. We saw rail- taken up and relaid Ii
lew minutes with great precision. In our 1udg